Home/Why do some mekubalim support Zionism? Can I pray for the end of Zionism in birkas hamazon?

Why do some mekubalim support Zionism? Can I pray for the end of Zionism in birkas hamazon?

07/01/07

Dear Rabbi,
Why some or all 'Mekubalim' in the holy land supporting the zionist state? They give many advices for the zionist regime members,the same zionist state which is rebellion against Hashem and his holy torah. I think that even you know Kabalah and you do not supporting the zionists.
Thank you very much and Regards,
Aharon Ben-Yitzchak

Dear Aharon,

You can be sure that there is nothing in Kabbalah to support the Zionists. On the contrary, the Zohar (Shemos 32a, end of Va'eira) says that Yishmael will rule the Holy Land until his merit (of bris milah) is used up. The Maharsha in Bava Basra 73b says that Yishmael will rule until the coming of moshiach. The Zohar in Vayikra 6a says that the future geulah will not be like other geulos where the Jews came back on their own, but we will wait in exile until Hashem comes to redeem us. The Zohar in Bereishis 54a predicts that there will be a false "ketz yamim" caused by the Sitra Achra. It says that Daniel was told to wait for the "ketz yamin", the true ketz, not the "ketz yamim".

The question of why some mekubalim support the state is the same as the question of why some talmidei chachamim support it. The answer is simply that they did not learn the Torah subject of the galus, geulah and shalosh shevuos well enough. Just because someone is a great talmid chacham in Bava Kama, Bava metzia and Gittin does not automatically mean that he knows everything. Many rabbis know Shulchan Aruch perfectly but the Shulchan Aruch does not mention the shvuos because it was not practical halacha until just recently.

Take the example of the great mekubal, the Baba Sali. When Vayoel Moshe was published, he bought himself a copy, and spend a few days alone reading the entire sefer. When he finished he made a siyum and was very happy, saying that everything in it was true. A great man like him recognizes that he can learn from others, and when someone like the Vayoel Moshe did us the kindness of studying the subject of the shalosh shvuos thoroughly and writing a sefer about it, other gedolim can learn from it. Not everybody can be a specialist in everything.

Dear Rabbi,
Can I add at the Birkas Hamazon the sentence:
" Harahman hu yishbor ol hashilton hatzioni me'al tzavareinu" ,is it possible?
Thank you very much for your comments.

Aharon ben Yitzchak

Dear Aharon,

We do not make changes in the siddur. But you raise a good question: what should a Jew living under the Zionists think when he says "hu yishbor ol hagoyim (or in Nusach Ashkenaz uleinu) me'al tzavareinu v'hu yolicheinu komemiyus le'artzeinu"? I would say to look at the repetition of the word "hu" - it sounds like we want to stress that Hashem will do it. This is similar to what Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch said on the fourth blessing of Birkas Hamazon. (See Parsha Pearls, Emor.) It says "hu heitiv hu meitiv hu yeitiv lanu" and "hu gemalanu&" Every time it repeats hu for stress, that only Hashem helped us in the past and now, and only He will bring the geulah. This blessing was written after the fall of Beitar, when the Jews stumbled in following a false moshiach who led them into war for their independence. Chazal wanted to teach us that this was a mistake that should never again be repeated.

The same thing should be our thoughts here, wherever we are in the world: Hu only Hashem yishbor ol hagoyim me'al tzavareinu, and Hu only Hashem should bring us komemiyus le'artzeinu, because it is forbidden for Jews to do it on their own, and look at the troubles and dangers that come on them when they try!

Also one should have in mind to be mekabel the ol hagoyim, the ol hagalus, and be subservient to them, not to the Zionists.

Dear Rabbi,

I wrote my question about Birkat Hamazon because in the Sephardic siddur it says that it is allowed to add requests beginning with the word Harachaman& Therefore I thought it would be permitted to add this request, since I am living under the Zionist government, which blinds and wishes to blind the eyes of the Jewish people, may G-d spare us. But after your reply, I decided that it was not worth it, because adding to the prayers might lead to bal tosif.

I must also tell you that there is a feeling here that war is imminent in the Ashdod area where I live, from many fronts, Heaven forbid, due to the provocative actions of the Zionist regime, whose existence is the cause of the death of Jews, G-d spare us. Please pray for us and for the peace of our people. Together with this offer prayers for the end of the Zionist regime, soon in our days, amein.

May it be G-ds will that we merit to see the uprooting of the Zionist regime from Eretz Yisroel in peace and without pain, and the coming of the son of David and the complete redemption, and complete repentance of the Jewish people, and that we see only happy occasions and good tidings, amein. Many thanks to you for your attention in sending answers to my questions.

Aharon Ben Yitzchak

Dear Rabbi,
why the religious zionists making connection and giving legitimation to the zionist election on the basis of talmudic law from Bavli,Brachos 55a ?
"Ein memanin parnas al Hatzibur elah im ken..." ,
what is the the basis of theirs argument?
I say that for jews there will never be the right to choose for them a leader, only Hashem yisborach knows whos leader appointed for us like Shaul Hamelech,Dovid Hamelech and others.
Therefore, there's no any legitimation to elect for us a leader like all the nations,G-d forbiden.
Thank you for yours answer,
Aharon Ben-Yitzchak

Dear Aharon,

It is true that we do not appoint a leader without consulting the public. Over the generations, the community board members in every Jewish town were elected by the community, and the rabbi was selected by the board. The story is told about Rabbi Yosef Ber Soloveitchik, author of Beis Halevi, that when he was offered the rabbinate in Slutzk by the board of the main synagogue, he refused to accept unless the boards of all the synagogues in town signed the contract as well, even the cobblers and the chimney sweeps.

However, all agree that one may not appoint a leader who has no fear of G-d, even if he be very wise (Rambam Melachim 1:7). And in any case we may certainly not appoint any leader for the purpose of transgressing the severe oaths which prohibit Jews from ruling over the Holy Land.

This is all said regarding regular leaders. But regarding a king you are correct that the king is chosen by G-d through His prophets, and anointed by the prophet, just as Saul and David were anointed by Samuel. The messiah as will be chosen by G-d and anointed by Eliyahu the prophet.